Cape May Lighthouse
 Cape May Lighthouse Stained Glass Panel |
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 Cape May Exit Zero Stained Glass Panel |
The Cape May Lighthouse was built in 1859 under the supervision of U.S. Army engineer William F. Raynolds
and was automated in 1946, the tower is 157 feet high, with a focal height of 160 feet. This is the third tower
constructed at the southern tip of New Jersey, the first was built in 1823, the second in 1847, the locations of
the first two are now underwater due to erosion. Cape May Lighthouse was added to the National Register of
Historic Places on November 12, 1973. Over 2.5 million visitors have climbed the lighthouse since it opened
to the public in 1988. There is a Visitors’ Orientation Center and Museum Shop carrying souvenirs, books and
maritime items located next to the lighthouse in the old oil room.
There are 217 steps from the ground to the top, with 199 steps in the tower's cast iron spiral staircase. The
lighthouse has two separate walls. The outside wall is cone-shaped and is 3 feet 10 inches (1.17 m) thick at
the bottom and 1 foot 6 inches (0.46 m) thick at the top. The inside wall is a cylinder with 8.5-inch-thick
walls which support the spiral staircase. The walls were designed to withstand winds several times above
hurricane force. The view from the top extends to Cape May City and Wildwood to the north, Cape May Point
to the south and on a clear day, Cape Henlopen, Delaware, to the west. Within immediate view are Cape May
Cove and Battery 223, a harbor defense battery originally built during World War II.
Below are links to sites with Cape May Lighthouse information:
Cape May Lighthouse via Cape May MAC
Cape May Lighthouse via CapeMay.com
Cape May Lighthouse via Lighthouse Friends
Cape May Lighthouse via via VisitNJ.org
Cape May Lighthouse via Facebook
Cape May Point State Park
Photos taken recently Coming Soon
